Jorge Alastuey – El Mago from La Masia by Arsen
Description
Jorge Alastuey Aperte was born on the 14th of May, 2003 in Zaragoza. At the age of 3, he joined AD Stadium Casablanca, where he started playing football. Already at a young, he showed incredible intelligence that other kids lacked for their age. After seven years at Stadium Casablanca, he joined Zaragoza’s academy, where he caught the attention of Spain’s biggest clubs including Real Madrid and Barcelona. However, it was only after a youth tournament in Argentona, that Barcelona became highly interested in the youngster. Wanting to incorporate the player into the famous La Masia. Jorge was a big Barcelona fan since he was little and in 2016 he quickly accepted a move to Barcelona. At the age of 13, he was enrolled into La Masia’s Infantil A (U14) squad. Despite having a shy personality Jorge showed incredible leadership skills and eventually was picked as Cadet B (U15) captain while captaining U16s the next year. In 2018, Barcelona won the prestigious Istria Youth Cup, where they beat Benfica 1-0 in the final with Jorge Alastuey winning the MVP of the tournament. In the 18/19 season, Jorge Alastuey suffered an ACL injury that kept him out for almost a year. Despite, suffering a long-term injury the club offered him a renewal until 2022 with a promotion to Juvenil B (U18s). In February 2020 he started his first game, since the ACL injury, in a friendly game against SC Cambuur, where he scored a goal. Last season Jorge played a key role in a league winning campaign scoring 5 goals, while also grabbing a few assists on the way.
Playing Style
Similar player: Thiago Alcântara
Jorge Alastuey is a left-footed midfielder that can play in multiple positions as a pivot, interior or as an attacking midfielder. He is a player that stands out with his incredible technique as any La Masia midfielder. Great touch, passing ability and vision make him an incredible playmaker. Despite formerly as an attacking midfielder Jorge developed his style to more of an interior capable of scoring goals and provide assists with his creativity. While on the ball Jorge always looks for a pass that will open up the play for his teammates be it a line-breaking pass or a long ball. Combining it with his intelligence and positional play makes him an incredible midfielder capable of controlling the game and distributing passes, to create chances. However, as a defensive midfielder, he lacks defensive ability off the ball and plays more as a deep-lying playmaker, that carries the ball forward.
Future ahead
In the 21/22 season, Jorge Alastuey will play with Juvenil A, with the player’s contract expiring at the end of the season. The club will need to decide whenever the player will be promoted to Barcelona B or will be released from La Masia in the summer of 2022. With a lot of talented midfielders in the U19s squad like Marc Casado, Txus Alba, Toni Caravaca, Aleix Garrido, Biel Vicens, Jorge could become one of the metronomes in the team leading the players to a league title and in the UEFA Youth League tournament. While in Cadet A he received multiple offers from abroad including Manchester City, with the player rejected all of them to stay at Barcelona and make history at the club. The player will try his best to make his dream come true of succeeded at Camp Nou.
Talent Rating: 8.5/10